East Slopes South

While avalanches will be unlikely, challenging travel and low snow conditions present other dangers. Make sure you are prepared with appropriate equipment to prevent long uncontrollable slides on steep icy slopes. If clouds are slow to form in the afternoon, slopes in direct sun may shed some rollerballs or small wet loose avalanches.

Areas close to the Cascade crest picked up 1-2 inches of snow on Monday, but most of the east south zone saw just a trace if any, new snow. An observer near the Bumping Lake area found little snow below 5500ft and dust-on-crust conditions above that. The cold temperatures and afternoon clouds will likely keep surfaces cool enough to prevent significant wet loose avalanche activity. However, very steep rocky terrain in direct sun may shed a few rollerballs or small wet loose avalanches. 

Most of the East South Zone suffers from inconsistent and low snow cover, and low elevation access is becoming increasingly challenging. Travel cautiously, especially at lower elevations, to avoid impacts with rocks or stumps, and falls into holes. Expect variable surface conditions and tough travel. However, the snowpack does increase as you gain elevation, especially on shady northern aspects. For more information on how our current snowpack compares to seasonal averages, check out the most recent Climatological Snow Depth Report.